During my stay at the Sheraton San Diego during FinCon 2016, I took advantage of free premium Wi-Fi in my room thanks to my Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express.
You can get faster Wi-Fi when you stay at Starwood hotels if you have the AMEX Starwood personal OR small business card. In my case, the premium speeds were more than TWICE the regular in-room Wi-Fi speed!
Here’s how I got Sheraton free Wi-Fi!
About the AMEX Starwood Cards
Link: Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express
Link: Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express
You can earn 25,000 Starwood points when you sign-up for the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express and spend $3,000 within the first 3 months of opening your account.
Or earn 25,000 Starwood points with the Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
With these cards, you’ll get:
- 2 points per $1 you spend at Starwood hotels (includes Aloft, Design Hotels, Element, Four Points, Le Meridien, Sheraton, St Regis, The Luxury Collection, Tribute Portfolio, Westin and W brand hotels)
- 1 Starwood point per $1 you spend on everything else
- Unlimited use of Boingo Wi-Fi hotspots (excluding in-flight)
- For small business cardholders, access to Sheraton Club lounges (free breakfast and hors d’oeuvres) for cardholder and 1 guest staying in the same room (3rd-party bookings are excluded).
- 2 stay credits or 5 night credits toward Starwood elite status
- $95 annual fee, waived for the first year
- No foreign transaction fees
- Terms & limitations apply
How I Got Sheraton Free Wi-Fi
If you have the AMEX Starwood personal OR small business card, you also get free premium Wi-Fi at participating Starwood hotels when you book your room directly with the hotel. And when premium Wi-Fi is offered.
You will NOT get this perk if you book your room through:
- Certain group rates
- A tour operator
- Third-party booking sites like Expedia, Orbitz, or Travelocity
And you will only get premium Wi-Fi for the room you stay in, regardless of how many other rooms you reserve. Just remember to include your Starwood loyalty number when you book, so you can get faster internet!
Get Premium Wi-Fi in Your Room
Step 1. Connect to the Hotel Wi-Fi Network
To get started, connect to the hotel’s Wi-Fi network. On your browser, you’ll see a screen to enter your room number and last name.
Click “Next” to continue.
Step 2. Select Your Plan & Dates
You’ll see an option for “Premium Internet.”
Then, enter your check-out date. So you’ll have faster Wi-Fi for your entire stay.
In my case, the premium internet was more than double the speed for uploads and downloads. And I could connect 5 devices instead of the usual 3. That’s handy if you and a guest both have a phone and a laptop to connect!
Step 3. Confirm
Next, make sure your details are correct. I saved $15 a day for faster internet!
If you stay often at Starwood hotels, this perk can make your stays more comfortable. And save you cash if you have a lot of devices to connect. Or if you want faster Wi-Fi.
If everything looks good, click “Next” and enjoy quicker internet speeds!
Bottom Line
Folks with the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express or Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express can enjoy premium in-room Wi-Fi at most Starwood hotels for NO extra cost.
I found it easy to activate this benefit when I stayed at the Sheraton San Diego.
Keep in mind the perk is only available for the cardmember. And it’s for the room you stay in, no matter how many other rooms you book. You also must book directly with the hotel to take advantage of faster internet.
Has this perk come in handy during your travels?